A Kingdom Vision
August 3, 2014 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We must not be tempted to only look at the temporary things that can be seen, but the eternal things that cannot be seen.
Focus Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Supplemental Passage: Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he who keeps the law, he is blessed. (Pro 29:18)
Introduction: About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness.
In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway?
Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision. With a clear vision of what we can become in Christ, no ocean of difficulty is too great. Without it, we rarely move beyond our current boundaries. Lynn Anderson.
I. Temporary Things
a. Buildings
b. Programs
c. Some deeds (selfish, time, etc)
II. Eternal Things
a. Souls
b. Some Investments (tithes and offerings, time, etc)
c. Some Deeds (serving, teaching, etc BECAUSE of the love of Christ)
III. Kingdom Vision
a. Look beyond what can be seen
b. Look to invest yourself in things that last for eternity
c. Look to give yourself away.
i. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. (Philippians 2:17)
Application/Invitation: What motivates you? Are you only looking at what can be seen? Invest yourself into God’s kingdom and see the difference.
